Job 42:3

you asked, ¹  ‘Who is this who darkens counsel without knowledge?’ But ²  I have declared without understanding ³  things too wonderful for me to know. ⁴ 

Job 38:2; Ps 40:5; Ps 131:1; Ps 139:6; Pr 30:2-4

¹ tn The expression “you asked” is added here to clarify the presence of the line to follow. Many commentators delete it as a gloss from Job 38:2. If it is retained, then Job has to be recalling God’s question before he answers it.

² tn The word לָכֵן (lakhen) is simply “but,” as in Job 31:37.

³ tn Heb “and I do not understand.” The expression serves here in an adverbial capacity. It also could be subordinated as a complement: “I have declared [things that] I do not understand.”

⁴ tn The last clause is “and I do not know.” This is also subordinated to become a dependent clause.